Is Counseling for You?

Many people don’t seek counseling until their situation has become unmanageable or they feel they can no longer function properly. Have you ever thought to yourself “If I just push through, things will eventually get better”? This is a common thought process, but often that is not what ends up happening. Somewhere in the craziness of life you stop listening to your body, mind, and spirit. You no longer hear them telling you that you’re doing too much or that your lifestyle is unsustainable. 

I’m not sure where this “if I just push through, things will get better” mindset developed, but I can tell you it’s learned. 

I can also tell you it can be a trap and I don’t want that for you. I know you deserve support. You deserve to enjoy life, experience care, and take a break from the expectation to “push through” on your own. Counseling in St. Petersburg, Florida can offer you the care and support you deserve when life gets tough.

 Your thoughts, feelings, and experiences are important.

Maybe you’ve looked around during tough times and thought “other people have problems too” or “my life isn’t as bad as it could be.” Comparing and minimizing your experiences, thoughts, and feelings is a natural defense used by all of us. It can help you keep pushing when your body, mind, and spirit push back. You might notice that the longer you face the tough thing(s) in your life the less that tactic works. It might even make you feel worse. That is because pushing down your thoughts and feelings to face the problem can lead to feeling alone or unimportant over time. This can cause more emotional pain than the original issue for some people. If you ask me, reaching out to trusted people for support during a tough time is a win-win. Doing so can help you face life’s challenges with more ease and help you feel loved in the process!

 Sometimes you just need to be heard.

Sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust can be a relief. The experience of being heard can help you feel less alone. Turning to your partner, family, or friends can be a natural choice for some. In other cases, turning to loved ones can cause anxiety. Maybe the thing you’re struggling with is a conflict with someone in your family or friend circle. Perhaps you worry that your sharing will feel like a burden or might make them uncomfortable. Maybe the information is sensitive, and you wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing it with your community. Counseling is a great solution in times like these. You don’t have to wait to seek therapy when things are in crisis. Counseling can be a place for you to “get things off your chest.” This allows you to be heard and experience the relief that comes from doing so, especially in an accepting environment.

Counseling offers a safe place to be heard and explore your thoughts and feelings.

Therapists know that it can be a really unnerving experience to open up to someone you don’t know. We get it. Sharing with someone you know is much more comfortable. We also get that sometimes that isn’t an option. Many therapists focus on creating as safe and comfortable a space as possible to help ease the discomfort of sharing with us. Therapists keep confidentiality so that you can safely share anything that feels important to you. We want you to have a safe, comfortable space. Your therapist wants to get to know you and understand your world. We genuinely want to offer you care and support! It’s why we do the work that we do.

You can find a wide variety of skilled professionals offering counseling in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Counseling can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can choose a therapist based on your preferences and their experience or knowledge of the issues you’re facing. Most therapists receive general training and then continue to get training each year following their schooling. Some therapists go on to specialize in particular areas. Some common specialties are working with anxiety, depression, couples, trauma, or grief. When it comes to choosing a therapist, the most important thing to consider is whether you feel comfortable with them. In order to be heard, and receive the level of care you deserve, you’ll need to feel comfortable enough to share honestly. You get to decide who you want to let into your world and that applies to therapists too.

You’re not meant to face life’s challenges alone. 

None of us are. That’s the beauty of having community and support systems. They can help us get through when we need a little extra support. Sometimes friends, family, and partners have limited capacity to support you. It doesn’t feel like you can share with them. You don’t want to burden them or make them uncomfortable. Maybe you might feel uncomfortable sharing what is going on for you. So where can you go to get extra support when you need it? Counseling in St. Petersburg, Florida can be a safe place for you to get the dedicated support that is centered on you.

We want you to get the best care and support for whatever it is that is going on in your world! Ready to set up an appointment for counseling in St. Petersburg, Florida?